Hendrika de Vries, born and raised in Amsterdam, emigrated to Adelaide with her family as a young girl and became a swimming champion, young wife, and mother in Adelaide. The H&GHS recorded an online conversation with Henny from her home in Santa Barbara California in October 2024 during which she shared her memories of swimming competitively at the Henley Pool in the 1950s and of Henley Beach and Adelaide at that time.

She was a South Australian Swimming Champion in 1955.

Her stories bring to life a piece of our local history that many of us may not have experienced first-hand, but will now be able to appreciate through her eyes.

Hendrika (already an award winning author) will have her new book ‘OPEN TURNS: From Dutch Girl to New Australian-a memoir‘ published in 2025. The book will include memories of her time swimming at Henley Beach and Adelaide during the 1950s.

Image credit: Henrika de Vries